Hunting

I know it has been W-I-N-D-Y lately.  Typical for spring in Nebraska.  But, on occasion the wind quits blowing and I can stand on my front step, feel it in the air, smell it, and if I listen hard enough I am sure I can hear it. . . .There, there it is. . . . I know I just heard a turkey gobble. Now, I am stationed at our headquarters here in Lincoln, and I live not far from …

LINCOLN – Gov. Pete Ricketts signed a proclamation on April 6 declaring that Nebraska is the Best Turkey Hunting Destination in the United States. The governor signed the proclamation in a ceremony at the Nebraska Capitol and presented it to Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Director Jim Douglas and District 3 Commissioner Mick Jensen of Blair (northeastern Nebraska). In a recent survey, 90 percent of respondent Nebraska turkey hunters stated they had a satisfying experience. Several factors contribute to hunters’ …

LINCOLN – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will accept applications for a 2016 bighorn sheep lottery permit beginning April 18. Only Nebraska residents are eligible. The application period ends Aug. 5, and the permit, the only one authorized for 2016, will be drawn Aug. 18. Applications must be accompanied by a $25 nonrefundable application fee. Apply at a Nebraska Game and Parks office or at OutdoorNebraska.org. The 2016 bighorn sheep season is Nov. 29 – Dec. 22.

Spring turkey hunting is all about communication.  You make the sounds of a sexy hen and the interested toms gobble back.  Quite simply you are talking to that bird.  Now what you are saying and when you say it is the source of much discussion at turkey camp.  But what you use to make the talk of the turkey can be an important part of the hunt, too. Walk into the turkey call department of any sporting goods store and …

EEEEK! TICK! The ticks are out! In Nebraska, ticks become active early in the spring and are one of the first biting pests we experience as the weather warms. Ticks are part of Nebraska’s environment, and they shouldn’t stop any of us from pursuing our favorite outdoor activities this time of year — wild turkey hunting, morel mushroom picking, bird watching, tent camping, hiking, fishing, etc. We just need to take the necessary precautions to dissuade these little buggers from crawling on us, embedding …

If I had to pick the perfect critter for introducing kids to the incredible pastime of hunting, it would be the wild turkey. They are interesting, challenging and so many of the activities associated with hunting turkeys fit right into a kid’s idea of a good time, like painting your face, hanging out in a fort (blind), saying silly words and making funny noises. I think it’s safe to say, turkeys are just plain fun! Kids love to repeat words …

Our traditions are a major part of us. They help to shape who we are. Indeed, when it comes to the hunting lifestyle, they are at the very core of what we are. The wild places, the game animals and birds we seek, how we do that, when we do that, and with whom we do that, all sculpt our outdoor lives. Whenever I think about creating a new hunting tradition I always find myself in kind of a quandary. The word tradition really isn’t about the new, it’s about the old, isn’t it? Or, …

Hunters looking to be successful at bagging a turkey this spring will have the opportunity to learn how to do it Tuesday, March 22, in Chadron. Justin Powell of Alliance, a Nebraska Game and Parks Commission wildlife biologist and avid hunter, will deliver a presentation about hunting gobblers as part of the Commission’s Turkey Hunting Workshop series. The event will be 6-8:30 p.m. in room 231 of the Burkhiser Complex at Chadron State College. The workshop is open to all …

The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission has completed the third year of a five-year aerial survey of mule deer in the Pine Ridge of northwestern Nebraska. The survey, which covers eight subunits with the most suitable mule deer habitat within the Pine Ridge deer management unit, indicated a decrease in the overall mule deer population, but an increase in the number of the species’ fawns. Commission employees counted 636 mule deer compared to 758 in 2015 and 862 in 2014. …

LINCOLN – Fall turkey hunters are being surveyed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission to learn more about their hunting experiences. The information gathered during the survey will be used to estimate fall season harvest and determine hunter satisfaction and opinions on aspects of their hunting experience. Survey results are used to inform turkey harvest management. Individuals who bought a 2015 fall turkey permit and provided a valid email address, as well as those who participated in the fall …